The preliminary estimated resident population (ERP) of Australia at December 2003 was 20,008,700 persons, an increase of 250,800 persons since December 2002 and 67,900 persons since September 2003.

Natural increase during the December quarter 2003 was 31,400 persons, a 2.6% increase on the December quarter 2002.

Preliminary net overseas migration was 36,500 persons in the December quarter 2003, a 2% increase on the December quarter 2002.

POPULATION GROWTH RATES

The Australian population grew 0.3% in the December quarter 2003 and 1.3% in the 12 months ended December 2003.

In the December quarter 2003 all states and territories had positive growth rates.

For the year ended December 2003 all states and territories experienced positive population growth. Queensland recorded the highest growth rate (2.3%) and the Australian Capital Territory recorded the lowest (0.1%).

NOTES

INTRODUCTION

Estimated resident population (ERP) data in this publication are based on the 2001 Census of Population and Housing (2001 census). Exceptions are tables 9, 17, 18 and 19 (excluding 2001 estimates), which are still based on the 1996 Census of Population and Housing (1996 census).

CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE

The layout and content of this publication has changed. The major changes are detailed below.

A new table 7 has been included consisting of ERP figures and proportions for states and territories, and Other Territories (Jervis Bay Territory, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands).

The Technical Note - Measuring Net Overseas Migration has been updated for December quarter 2003 figures.

Revisions included in this issue are as follows:

Revisons have been applied to births and deaths data for March, June and September quarters 2003.

Data for household estimates for 2001 are now based on 2001 census data and are included in tables 17, 18 and 19.

ERP DATA STATUS

At any point in time this publication contains final, revised and preliminary ERP data. The status of the ERP data included in this issue is as follows:-

Final - All ERP data up to and including June quarter 2001

Revised - ERP data from September quarter 2001 to June quarter 2002, inclusive

Preliminary - ERP data from September quarter 2002 to December quarter 2003, inclusive.

DATA NOT YET AVAILABLE

Household estimates for 2002 and 2003 in tables 17, 18 and 19 are currently under review.

MAIN FEATURES

INTRODUCTION

The preliminary estimated resident population (ERP) of Australia at December 2003 was 20,008,700 persons, an increase of 250,800 since December 2002 and 67,900 since September 2003. The national growth rate during the 12 months ended December 2003 was 1.3%, compared with 1.2% for the 12 months ended December 2002.COMPONENTS OF AUSTRALIA'S POPULATION CHANGE

The growth of Australia's population has two components; natural increase (the number of births minus the number of deaths) and net overseas migration (net permanent and long-term movement plus the migration adjustment). Since Federation, natural increase has generally contributed more to annual population growth than net overseas migration. This was not the case for the year ended December 2003, when net overseas migration exceeded natural increase by 14,000 persons. This is attributed to high levels of net overseas migration rather than low levels of natural increase. Preliminary net overseas migration in the year ended December 2003 was 132,400 persons.

Natural increase

Natural increase in December quarter 2003 was 31,400 persons, a 2.6% increase on December quarter 2002 (30,600). The number of births registered in December quarter 2003 (64,800) was 1.6% higher than December quarter 2002 (63,800).

Natural increase for the year ended December 2003 was 118,400 persons, an increase of 2.6% on the number recorded in the year ended December 2002 (115,400). Births contributed 251,200 babies and deaths removed 132,800 persons from the population in the year ended December 2003.
Net overseas migration

Net overseas migration was 36,500 persons in the December quarter 2003, an increase of 2% from the number recorded in December quarter 2002 (35,800). During the December quarter 2003 there were 124,300 permanent and long-term arrivals and 87,700 permanent and long-term departures after migration adjustments.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) applies a number of adjustments to the overseas arrivals and departures data used to produce estimates of net overseas migration (NOM). These mainly comprise adjustments designed to reflect differences between stated travel intentions and actual travel behaviour, but (in the case of revised NOM estimates) also include adjustments to transform numbers of overseas movements into numbers of travellers. Until recently, adjustments used by ABS to produce NOM estimates were collectively referred to as 'category jumping adjustments'. They are now referred to more simply as 'migration adjustments'. For more information see theTechnical Note - Measuring Net Overseas Migration on page 34.

STATE AND TERRITORIES

PopulationThe population of Australia's states and territories at December 2003 was as follows: New South Wales 6,716,300, Victoria 4,948,000, Queensland 3,840,100, South Australia 1,531,400, Western Australia 1,969,000, Tasmania 480,000, Northern Territory 198,700, and the Australian Capital Territory 322,600.

Consistent with the recent amendments to the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, estimates of the population of each of the Other Territories are listed separately in Table 7 of this publication. The population of these territories continue to be included in the Australian totals presented in other tables (see paragraph 2 of the Explanatory Notes). Estimates of the population of Other External Territories of Australia will be included in a future issue of this publication.

Growth ratesAll states and territories recorded positive growth in the December quarter 2003. Queensland recorded the highest growth (0.6%) followed by Western Australia (0.4%), Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales (each 0.3%), South Australia (0.2%) and the Northern Territory (0.1%). The Australian Capital Territory remained relatively unchanged with marginal growth from the previous quarter.

For the year ended December 2003 all states and territories recorded a positive growth rate. The highest growth rate was recorded by Queensland (2.3%) followed by Western Australia (1.7%). The lowest growth rate was recorded by the Australian Capital Territory (0.1%).

Interstate migrationWith the exception of Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania, all states and territories experienced a net loss through interstate migration in the December quarter 2003. Queensland had a gain of 10,400 persons while Tasmania increased by 800 persons. Western Australia recorded a net gain through interstate migration for just the second time since March quarter 1999, increasing by 100 persons. New South Wales recorded the largest net loss through interstate migration (–8,400), followed by Victoria (–1,000), the Australian Capital Territory (–800), the Northern Territory (–700) and South Australia (–400).

For the year ended December 2003 all states and territories, with the exception of Queensland and Tasmania, recorded a net loss through interstate migration. Queensland had the highest gain of 37,600 persons, followed by Tasmania (3,000). New South Wales lost the largest number of persons (–31,300), followed by the Northern Territory (–2,900), the Australian Capital Territory (–2,600), South Australia (–1,900), Victoria (–1,500) and Western Australia (–400).

NET INTERSTATE MIGRATION, States and territories

TABLE 1 - POPULATION CHANGE, Summary(a)

COMPONENTS OF POPULATION CHANGE

POPULATION

Net

Growth on

Growth on

Natural

overseas

At end

previous

previous

Births

Deaths

increase

migration

of period

year(b)

year(b)

Period

'000

'000

'000

'000

'000

'000

%

1997-98

249.1

129.3

119.9

79.2

18,711.3

193.7

1.05

1998-99

250.0

128.3

121.7

96.5

18,925.9

214.6

1.15

1999-2000

249.3

128.4

120.9

107.3

19,153.4

227.5

1.20

2000-01

247.5

128.9

118.6

135.7

19,413.2

259.9

1.36

2001-02

247.4

130.3

117.2

110.6

19,641.0

227.7

1.17

2002-03

248.3

133.9

114.3

125.3

19,880.6

239.6

1.22

1998

248.3

127.4

120.8

88.8

18,814.3

205.2

1.10

1999

250.2

128.2

122.0

104.2

19,038.3

224.1

1.19

2000

249.2

128.8

120.4

111.4

19,272.6

234.3

1.23

2001

246.6

128.8

117.8

136.1

19,529.3

256.6

1.33

2002

250.2

134.9

115.4

113.2

19,757.9

228.6

1.17

2003

251.2

132.8

118.4

132.4

20,008.7

250.8

1.27

2001

December

60.8

32.3

28.5

31.2

19,529.3

256.6

1.33

2002

March

61.3

29.6

31.7

36.4

19,597.3

237.1

1.22

June

61.5

33.1

28.4

15.3

19,641.0

227.7

1.17

September

63.7

38.9

24.8

25.8

19,691.5

221.9

1.14

December

63.8

33.2

30.6

35.8

19,757.9

228.6

1.17

2003

March

57.2

29.6

27.6

41.6

19,827.2

229.9

1.17

June

63.6

32.2

31.4

22.1

19,880.6

239.6

1.22

September

65.6

37.6

28.0

32.1

19,940.8

249.3

1.27

December

64.8

33.4

31.4

36.5

20,008.7

250.8

1.27

(a) See Explanatory Notes for concepts used and the Glossary for definitions of terms used. Includes Other Territories from September 1993 - see paragraph 2 of the Explanatory Notes.(b) Differences between total growth and the sum of natural increase and net migration during 1996-2001 are due to intercensal discrepancy.